Reflect (March 01, 2020)

Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.

*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering

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NEW RELATIONSHIPS: THE STATE. ROMANS 13:1-14

CALL TO WORSHIP

When we meet together as a church we want to focus on God’s greatness and glory
- It can be hard to remember, but as Christians we believe that God is in control
- That he is at work in every part of this world
- He rules over nations and governments and global events
- But he also is at work in the tiny details of our everyday lives
- So let’s start our gathering with a call to worship that reminds us that God is our great King

 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The LORD rules and reigns as King forever.

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. 

(based on Psalm 29:1-2,4,10-11)

SONG: ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

SONG: ALL PRAISE TO HIM

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Even though we believe God to be sovereign over all so often our hearts wander and desire to bow down to other masters. Rather than trusting God's sovereignty, we seek to become the kings and rulers of our own lives.
We don't give Jesus lordship over our lives, instead we let other things rule us and make them our priority instead. Why don't you take a moment to reflect on that now, confess to God where you see this in your own heart...

Join me in the underlined part of this prayer:
Father God, forgive us for failing to trust you and your sovereignty in our lives. Reveal the parts of our lives where we are slow to give you control.

Help us to see that your plans and purposes are greater than ours and would we know the peace that comes from trusting in you. Amen

The truth of the gospel is that there is forgiveness for us to be received through faith in Jesus. In putting our trust in him, we can know freedom from all our sin through his gift of grace.

SONG: LEAD US BACK

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PASTORAL PRAYER

READING OF THE WORD

Romans 13:1-14

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 13:1-14 this Sunday as we continued our series in Romans for the final time. Click here to listen to that sermon.

PRE-COMMUNION READING

COMMUNION

POST COMMUNION READING

Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.

We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.

With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.

We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.

SONG: FORGIVEN

SONG: HERE IS LOVE

COMMITMENT READING

As we close our gathering let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, in a world filled with so much darkness, we pray that we might know the hope that comes with your light.
Jesus, thank you that you entered into the darkness & defeated its power; that you conquered sin & offer rescue to us all. We praise you that one day you will return to bring peace to reign.

Help us to live as good citizens who love you and love others. Help us to remember that we belong to an eternal kingdom that will never end.

Fill us with the hope and comfort that comes from knowing you as our true King.

Amen.

SONG: THE LION AND THE LAMB

BENEDICTION

Peace be with you

And also with you.

Prepare (March 01, 2020)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing.

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ROMANS: New Relationships: The State [Romans 13:1-14].

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching from Romans 13:1-14 to us continuing our series in Romans.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

L: Heavenly Father, in a world filled with so much darkness, we pray that we might know the hope that comes with your light.
Jesus, thank you that you entered into the darkness & defeated its power; that you conquered sin & offer rescue to us all. We praise you that one day you will return to bring peace to reign.

C: Help us to live as good citizens who love you and love others. Help us to remember that we belong to an eternal kingdom that will never end.

L: Fill us with the hope and comfort that comes from knowing you as our true King.

Amen.

MUSIC

Lead us Back (Sojourn): A song of confession that we so often seek security, comfort and the worship of other idols above God. A plea that God would lead us back to life in him.

Forgiven (Sovereign Grace): A song of confession and assurance that reminds us we are forgiven through the blood of Christ, despite the ways we fail God and fail one another.

Reflect (February 23, 2020)

Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.

*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering

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New Relationships: To Friends & Enemies. ROMANS 12:9-21

CALL TO WORSHIP

When we gather together on a Sunday we want to remember the story of the gospel together
The wonderful good news of what God has done for us in Jesus
So every gathering traces that story as we sing, as we pray and as we hear from God
That means our gatherings start where the gospel starts: with God
So let me invite you to stand with me as we declare God’s greatness together 
Join with me in reading aloud anything you see that is underlined

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his ;we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

(Psalm 100)

SONG: COME PRAISE AND GLORIFY

SONG: GRACE ALONE

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

In his word God tells us that the church is the body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. When the Bible uses this language, it tells us that all parts of the body are different and yet necessary in order for it to flourish and grow. God also tells us in his word that our sin, our rejection of him affects our relationships with one another so we fail to love and serve one another as we should. 
Take a moment to reflect on that now, to reflect on ways we fail to see our need for each other and how our sin affects our relationships with one another.
Father God, we ask that you would help us in this. Thank you that in trusting in Jesus we are brought into your family. Thank you that we have a new identity as your people and as your church. Help us live out this calling as a response to the generosity you have shown to us in Christ. Amen.

SONG: AND CAN IT BE

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PASTORAL PRAYER

READING OF THE WORD

ROMANS 12:9-21

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 12:9-21 this Sunday as we continued our series in Romans for the final time. Click here to listen to that sermon.

PRE-COMMUNION READING

COMMUNION

POST COMMUNION READING

 Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.

We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.

With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.

We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.

SONG: THE POWER OF THE CROSS

SONG: I STAND AMAZED (HOW MARVELLOUS)

COMMITMENT READING

Hear this commitment reading that reminds us of who we are together in Jesus:

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, you are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

(Ephesians 2:19-20)

SONG: AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE)

BENEDICTION

Hear this benediction as we close our gathering:

Go knowing how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God towards us in Christ Jesus

Peace be with you

And also with you.

Prepare (February 23, 2020)

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing.

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ROMANS: New Relationships: To Friends & Enemies [Romans 12:9-21].

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching from Romans 12:9-21 to us continuing our series in Romans.

LITURGY

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

In his word God tells us that the church is the body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. When the Bible uses this language, it tells us that all parts of the body are different and yet necessary in order for it to flourish and grow. God also tells us in his word that our sin, our rejection of him affects our relationships with one another so we fail to love and serve one another as we should. 

Take a moment to reflect on that now, to reflect on ways we fail to see our need for each other and how our sin affects our relationships with one another.

Father God, we ask that you would help us in this. Thank you that in trusting in Jesus we are brought into your family. Thank you that we have a new identity as your people and as your church. Help us live out this calling as a response to the generosity you have shown to us in Christ. Amen.

MUSIC

And Can it Be: We will be singing a new song on Sunday, a modernised version of And Can it Be which you can listen to here.

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) (Chris Tomlin): An adapted version of the old hymn, celebrating the grace we have received from God and the freedom we can know in Christ.